National Crime Victims' Rights Week: 'New Challenges, New Solutions'

National Crime Victims' Rights Week is being celebrated by the Arkansas Valley Resource Center this year with a series of activities scheduled from April 20 through April 27.

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By Cindy Arnett and Bette McFarren

LA Junta Tribune - La Junta, CO

By Cindy Arnett and Bette McFarren

Posted Apr. 17, 2013 at 5:00 PM

By Cindy Arnett and Bette McFarren

Posted Apr. 17, 2013 at 5:00 PM

National Crime Victims' Rights Week is being celebrated by the Arkansas Valley Resource Center this year with a series of activities scheduled from April 20 through April 27.

Each April since 1981, the Office for Victims of Crime at the U.S. Department of Justice has helped lead communities throughout the country in observance of National Crime Victims' Rights Week. This year's theme, "New Challenges, New Solutions," reflects the increasingly complex mission of victim advocates today. Advocates face emerging challenges, such as globalization, changing demographics, immigration, human trafficking, terrorism, new types of crime and the use of technology both to commit and to solve crimes. Victims do not always receive the dignity and respect they deserve and often absorb the physical, emotional and financial costs of crime largely by themselves.

Over the past year, a number of high-profile crimes, such as the shootings in Aurora and at Sandy Hook Elementary as well as at the explosions at the Boston Marathon this week have highlighted the scope of challenges victims and advocates face.

Arkansas Valley Resource Center is a crisis intervention agency which provides shelter, counseling and support for victims of domestic violence, their children and all other crime victims. The purpose of the center is to strengthen families, educate the community, provide resources and training needed to save lives and protect all victims of crime and domestic violence. The center serves all victims of crime in Otero, Crowley and Bent Counties. The 24 hour hotline number is 384-7764.

The Arkansas Valley Resource Center has scheduled the following events: